It's no secret that I was a "teenage mom." It doesn't matter how old I am nor how old Kristina is I am still classified in that category and it is a badge that I wear proudly. Being a teenage mom also meant starting out my life broke! haha Shane and I didn't have anything when we found out I was pregnant with Kristina and we surely didn't have a dime to our name. We were kids!
Shane worked at a local grocery store part-time and that was the only income we had. As we figured out what we planned to do and how it would all work Shane went and bought me a ring. It took him several weeks salary to save enough money to buy the ring and when he proposed I thought it was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen! If I remember correctly it cost a whopping $250 (give or take).
As the years rolled on like they always seem to do Shane and I started making more money and naturally spending more money. Around 8 years of marriage I demanded a new ring. I wanted a bigger diamond! Yes, you read that right...I WANTED a NEW ring! Me and my selfish self. Well anyway, Shane being the man that he is he bought me a beautiful ring and ring guard. I loved it! I have worn it proudly for many years.
Until...a few months back I was in a jewelry store when the lady behind the counter noticed my ring. She told me that if I didn't have some prong work done I would lose the diamond. As soon as we got home I put the ring in my jewelry box and haven't worn it since waiting for the extra money to get it fixed. Well, during this downtime I've been thinking and came up with the bright idea to have the ring(s) completely redone. I wanted to combine this ring with my original ring and have this monstrosity of a wedding ring. I have talked about it, envisioned it, dreamed about it...oh MY ring!
As I'm sitting in church yesterday listening to Bro. John's sermon I keep hearing the word "idolatry." I hear this word over and over. I hear how we can take something worldly and put it before God and it doesn't matter how you fancy it up...it makes you an idolater. My rings kept flashing in my mind over and over like a bad movie. Was I making this ring an idol?
The answer is YES! 100% YES! As the day went on yesterday I began to think about diamonds. I thought about how I look at the rings that other women have. I thought about how proud I felt when I wore my ring and it was like I compared my ring to others that I saw. I didn't have this ring because it was the one that Shane bought me to show his love and affection for me...I had this ring because I demanded it. Ouch! Talk about an ego trip. Before we went to church last night I went into my bedroom and pulled out my original engagement ring and wedding ring and placed them on my finger...proudly! These other rings...they are for sale! The need to get out of my house! Me...I don't want to be an idolater! No way, no how and as long as those rings are in my house...that's exactly what I am! What about you? Are there any "idols" in your life?
"Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world...Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us...And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:5, 11 & 17 (NLT).
1 comment:
Too often Kevin talks about buying me a larger ring. I don't see the purpose. From my people watching, I have found that larger rings do not mean better marriages. Our marriage is built on a wonderful friendship we started about sixteen years ago, and besides our boys, I am most thankful for that. I live with my best friend. How many people can say that?
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